LONDON: One year ago, London-bound Flight 171 crashed shortly after taking off from Gujarat's Ahmedabad, killing all people on board but one. Images of Viswashkumar Ramesh, the lone survivor, walking away from the crash site with bloodstains on his T-shirt and a mobile phone in his hand were carried by media outlets around the world.
Today, one year later, Ramesh says he struggles with sleep, anxiety and difficult memories. People see that he has survived, but they do not always see the challenges that continue behind closed doors, said Ramesh, in a statement released through his advisor Sanjiv Patel. A year on, he is still trying to rebuild his life and support his family as best he can.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner had 242 people, including 12 crew members, on board. Around 32 seconds after taking off, it plummeted into the student hostel and canteen building of a medical college on June 12, 2025. The incident claimed 260 lives. Of those, 241 were passengers and crew on board the aircraft and 19 were on the ground.
Ramesh, 39, who lives with his family in Leicester, lost his brother Ajay in the disaster, which he says changed him as a person. He expressed gratitude for being alive, but noted that survival is only part of the story. What he has faced since then has been far more difficult than he can put into words, adding that he continues to struggle physically, psychologically and financially.
Ramesh has instructed UK-based Hudgell Solicitors to represent his interests. The firm is evaluating potential civil claims related to the disaster, while constructive talks remain ongoing with representatives of Air India for physical and psychological rehabilitation support. An Air India spokesperson stated that the airline remains committed to supporting every individual impacted by the AI171 tragedy with care and compassion.
Patel, a Leicester-based community leader who is close to Ramesh's family, said that Ramesh is unable to leave his home without support. He is seriously traumatised still, and those scars will remain with him for a long time, if not forever. Patel added that all families affected by this disaster are suffering trauma, and for Viswash and his family it has been devastating to an extent that is unimaginable.
In March, Ramesh met representatives of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) in Ahmedabad in connection with the official investigation into the disaster. The UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which is assisting Indian investigators in an expert capacity, said their thoughts are with those from all nationalities who have been affected by this accident.
